Sacramento KingsOpen full analysis
Portland Trail BlazersOpen full analysis
Portland edged Sacramento 134–133 on December 18 at Moda Center in a defensive struggle that finished just under the Vegas total of 238.5 points. Deni Avdija led the Trail Blazers with 35 points, supported by Shea Sharpe's 26, while DeMar DeRozan paced Sacramento with 33 points and Malik Raynaud added 29. The Kings shot efficiently at 51.1 percent from the field but were starved from three, making only six long-range attempts compared to Portland's 15 makes. Sacramento's defense was the story, holding Portland to a 112.1 offensive rating while generating 13 steals, yet the Trail Blazers' fourth-quarter surge—33 points—proved decisive. Portland's 19 turnovers and Sacramento's 18 kept the pace deliberate; both teams combined for just 59 assists on 134 and 133 points respectively. The Kings' 40-point opening quarter set an early tone, but Portland's balanced approach and depth scoring wore down Sacramento over the final stretch. This one-point result leaves both teams searching for consistency as the season progresses.
